The Priyanka Gandhi Effect: What To Expect?

As the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are tapping the Indian calendars, the political tussle between the Congress and the ruling government has burgeoned. Noticeably, as the polls are forthcoming, Congress has come up with the Priyanka Gandhi card to woo the general public in favor of Congress, on the other hand, the fervent BJP is already endeavoring to sway the people in their favor after the beatings in the state elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

The general secretary of Congress, Priyanka Gandhi has plunged into National politics with the intention to swing the general public in favor of Congress just before elections, which can spawn a turn-around of political events. According to many Ministers of Congress, the indulgence of Priyanka Gandhi can be a game-changer for the Congress. She has been given the control of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The key parliamentary constituencies encompass Lucknow, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur which is the turf of UP Chief Minister, Adityanath.

Whether she will contest in the elections or not, is yet not lucid. Rahul Gandhi has affirmed that the discreet of contesting or not contesting in the polls lies at the sweet will of Priyanka Gandhi. It is explicit that Congress is expecting that the Priyanka Card just before elections may boost the coalesced endeavors of Congress to sway the votes of upper castes, minority, and Dalits.

What Political Leaders Are Saying

The entry of Priyanka Gandhi in the political domain captivated limelight, and many political leaders gave their opinion on how her entrance to the politics would affect the Lok Sabha Elections of 2019.

Prashant Kishor, the poll strategist turned politician said that inclusion of Priyanka Gandhi might not be able to turn things in favor of Congress as the party is expecting, as it is too late to induct her into the politics just few months before elections.

Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor on Monday said Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might not be able to “turn things around” for her party in the few months left for the Lok Sabha polls. However, Janata Dal (United) vice president proclaimed that she could emerge as an effective face to reckon in the long run.

The BJP, on the other hand, claimed that the entry of Priyanka Gandhi into active politics flags and substantiates that Rahul Gandhi has failed in providing effective leadership to the party and that is the reason, Rahul Gandhi has opted for family crutches.

Following the same cord, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi also took a jibe at Congress and mockingly taunted the Congress to have a reservation for the members of one family and lampooned the party for nepotism.

Yogi Adityanath, on the other hand, said that the inductance of Priyanka Gandhi would not affect the poll results as “Zero plus Zero is also Zero.” He further flaked the Congress party for political Dynasty culture in the Congress Party.

Will the Inclusion of Priyanka Gandhi Indeed Be A Game Changer?

Recently, the two political outfits namely the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) coalesced to form an alliance to counter the BJP in the UP leaving behind the expected, “Grand Alliance.” Hence Congress was on backfoot, but with the inclusion of Priyanka Gandhi who resembles the image of her late grandmother, Indira Gandhi, the situations are bound to change.

Priyanka’s resemblance to her late grandmother, Indira Gandhi may help her connect with the public

Following the rise of Rahul Gandhi as a political leader after clinching the victories in the general elections, the entry of Priyanka Gandhi can add more strength to the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. Further, her excellent rapport, the united leadership of Gandhi’s might sway some magic in favor of Congress.

Though Priyanka Gandhi is less on time as she has very little time to alter the fortune of Congress in the forthcoming elections, it is expected her gift of gab might serve as a channel to woo the traditional vote banks of the party in the Uttar Pradesh.

Being an excellent orator, she might significantly influence the swing voters in UP following the anti-incumbency for the BJP in UP. Her resemblance with her late grandmother coupled with her excellent rapport, she might also win the mind of young voters in UP. But, despite the infinite possibility, it would be a daunting task for Priyanka Gandhi to change the destiny of Congress in too little time.